Allergic to Docetaxel- is there an alternative?

Hi Roo42

Thanks for getting in touch, my name’s Sue, and I’m one of the Cancer Information Nurse Specialists on the Macmillan Support Line. Welcome to the Online Community.

I’m sorry to hear you are struggling with your chemotherapy and have reacted to having Docetaxel. As nurses on the support line we do not have access to medical records so can only offer general advise about treatment.

To help make chemotherapy more manageable, if needed, a consultant can change someone’s treatment regime. This may mean doses are reduced and medications changed. As everyone’s regime is individually planned by the consultant and side effects are specific to that person, this is important to help them continue their treatment safely.

As your dose has been reduced this time, your consultant and treatment team at the hospital will assess how you are managing with this and will plan your next cycle accordingly. This may mean offering single agent Carboplatin or a change of chemotherapy drugs.

We would encourage you to talk to your consultant or clinical nurse specialist as they are best placed to offer you specific, individual advice about what other treatments may be available for you. There are lots of different chemotherapy combinations which can be used, so it may be helpful to discuss this with them. They will offer you personalised care for your breast cancer.

If you have any concerns or are struggling with side effects please do report them to your hospital treatment team by calling the 24 hour advise line or 111, as soon as possible, they can assess you and offer the most appropriate advise and support.

I hope this information is helpful, please don’t hesitate in getting back in touch if you need any further support.

Best wishes

Sue

Cancer Information Nurse Specialist 

You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or email us. 

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